Train with Trust

What Train with Trust does

Train with Trust is an animal behavior consulting service that applies evidence-based positive reinforcement training methods, adapted from zoo and marine mammal settings, to domestic pets, equines, and exotic animals. Co-founded by Megan Phillips (former Denver Zoo and SeaWorld trainer) and Jody Ambrose (Grand Prix dressage trainer and assistance dog specialist), the firm operates as a private partnership with approximately 13 total employees, though only the two co-founders serve as active behavior consultants.

The company's service offering spans four pillars: (1) personal behavior consultations delivered in-person across Northern California, Southern California, and Colorado Springs, or remotely via phone/video nationwide; (2) online learning including self-paced video courses, documentary films, and free educational resources; (3) in-person classes, workshops, and conference speaking engagements for animal professionals; and (4) a free 15-minute consultation serving as a top-of-funnel entry point. Pricing for individual consultations ranges from $85 to $175 per session depending on format and topic.

Revenue is generated through unit-priced professional services (consultations and workshops) and digital content sales. The firm serves a fragmented customer base including individual pet owners, equestrians, veterinarians, animal sanctuaries, and professional animal care facilities. The company also operates a non-profit arm, The Train with Trust Project, focused on equine welfare education. There are no institutional investors, funding rounds, or technology platform products; the business is fundamentally a boutique, founder-dependent professional services practice.

Name

Train with Trust

Legal name

Train with Trust Behavior Consultants

Website

https://trainwithtrust.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Train with Trust is an animal behavior consulting firm applying evidence-based positive reinforcement techniques to domestic pets, equines, and exotic animals, serving individual owners, veterinarians, and animal care facilities across the US via in-person and remote consultations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Behavior Consulting

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAMAAAI

Behavioral Medicine & Training-Integrated Veterinary Services

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Veterinary & Animal Health/Veterinary Clinical Services (Companion Animal)

SECONDARYAFAEAGAF

Sport/Show Horse Training & Performance Programs

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Equine (Horse) Breeding & Operations

SECONDARYAFAEALAM

Livestock Showing, Training & Performance Support Services (Non-veterinary)

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Animal Welfare, Boarding & Production Support Services (non-veterinary)

Keywords

• Animal behavior consulting
• Positive reinforcement training
• Pet behavior modification
• Equine behavior consulting
• Cooperative veterinary care

Headquarters

HQ city

Northern California

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Personal Behavior Consultations: One-on-one consulting sessions for behavior problems delivered in-person or via phone/video. Pricing varies from $95-$175 per session with package options available. Includes assessment, custom behavior plan, and coaching.
2. Online Courses and Educational Content: Self-paced video courses and educational content including free resources (Fireworks Phobia Survival Guide, The Unprofessional Pet webinar) and paid offerings. Premium content includes live Q&A sessions and detailed training programs.
3. Workshops and Speaking Engagements: In-person seminars, workshops, and conference presentations for animal professionals and pet owners. Customized events for organizations, veterinary practices, and conferences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Train with Trust is an animal behavior consulting service that delivers personalized one-on-one behavior modification for horses, dogs, cats, and exotic animals using evidence-based positive reinforcement techniques adapted from zoo and marine mammal training. The company offers remote and in-person consultations, self-paced online learning (documentaries and courses), in-person workshops, and a free introductory consultation to assess client needs across California, Colorado Springs, and nationwide via phone/video.

Product overview

Train with Trust is an animal behavior consulting service, not a software platform. Their offering consists of four interconnected service pillars: (1) Personal Behavior Consultations providing one-on-one in-person and remote sessions with custom behavior plans; (2) Online Learning featuring self-paced video courses and documentary films including The 24 Behaviors of the Ridden Horse in Pain, Don't Shoot the Zebra Pony, Training Without Fear, Fireworks Phobia Survival Guide, and The Unprofessional Pet; (3) Classes & Events including in-person workshops and professional training programs; and (4) a Free 15-Minute Consultation as an entry point to their services. The company specializes in evidence-based positive reinforcement training across multiple species including horses, dogs, cats, and exotic animals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Personal Behavior Consultations One-on-one private behavior consultations for beginners through professionals, including in-depth assessment, custom behavior plan, and coaching. Available in-person (Northern California, Southern California, Colorado Springs) or remotely via phone or video conference nationwide; 60-90 minute sessions priced $95-$175.
• Online Learning (Films & Self-Paced Courses) Learn-at-your-own-pace video courses, documentaries, and webinars on animal behavior topics including The 24 Behaviors of the Ridden Horse in Pain, Don't Shoot the Zebra Pony, Training Without Fear, Fireworks Phobia Survival Guide for Dogs, and The Unprofessional Pet webinar. Includes free resources and paid premium content.
• Classes & Events (Workshops and Speaking Engagements) In-person seminars and workshops offering hands-on learning activities for animal professionals, pet owners, and organizations. Includes customized courses for conferences and professional groups, plus speaking engagements at conferences and veterinary practices.
• Free 15-Minute Consultation

Quantifiable outcome

• Transformed traumatized mule from reactive to willing training partner within 2 months of positive reinforcement training
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, notable and minor.

• Padma VideocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Produced The 24 Behaviors of the Ridden Horse in Pain documentary short film in partnership with The Train with Trust Project. The documentary challenges conventional understanding of reactive horses and promotes equine welfare.
• The Train with Trust ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit arm of Train with Trust, created to further the mission and vision of the organization. First project is The 24 Behaviors of the Ridden Horse in Pain initiative.
• EquitopianotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduced the award-winning documentary Don't Shoot the Zebra Pony featuring Jody Ambrose of Train with Trust. The film documents the rehabilitation of a feral zebra-pony hybrid using cooperative training techniques.
• Caroline Hegarty (Equitopia Founder)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder of Equitopia who initiated the rescue project for Ziggy the zebra-pony hybrid and recruited Jody Ambrose to provide behavior consulting for the project.
• John Lyons (Legendary Horse Trainer)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured alongside Jody Ambrose in the Equitopia film 'Training Without Fear' discussing equine learning and fear responses.
• Dr. John Madigan (UC Davis)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirector of the Comparative Neurology Research Group at UC Davis, featured in 'Training Without Fear' film providing scientific perspective on equine fear and learning.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Monty Roberts (Join-Up International): Legendary horse trainer selling courses, clinics, books, and certifications targeting equestrians. Comparable training-led monetization model in the equine behavior/training space.
• Equitopia: Equine welfare and training education platform that co-produced 'Don't Shoot the Zebra Pony' and 'Training Without Fear' with Train with Trust. Direct overlap in equine behavior content and cross-species training methodology.
• Zak George Dog Training: High-profile positive-reinforcement dog trainer selling online courses, books, and video content. Comparable content-led monetization model with similar target audience.
• Patricia McConnell (The Other End of the Leash): Certified applied animal behaviorist offering behavior consulting, books, speaking, and radio work. Similar professional-services-plus-content model targeting pet owners with behavior problems.
• Victoria Stilwell (Positively): Celebrity dog behavior consultant offering one-on-one consultations, online courses, and TV/media content. Closely comparable professional-services business model targeting companion-animal owners with behavior problems.
• Karen Pryor Clicker Training: Pioneer of clicker/positive-reinforcement training for companion animals and horses. Operates an academy, online courses, books, and certification programs that overlap directly with Train with Trust's methodology and educational offerings.
• Ian Dunbar (Dog Star Daily): Veterinary behaviorist offering books, videos, courses, and behavior consulting for dog owners. Comparable professional-services-plus-content model in companion-animal behavior.
• Dr. Susan Friedman (Behavior Works): Pioneer of applied behavior analysis for animals, offering online courses, webinars, and professional training. Comparable science-forward behavior consulting and educator positioning.

Others

• International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC): Professional certifying body for animal behavior consultants (both co-founders are IAABC-certified). Functions as an ecosystem enabler and standards-setter rather than a direct competitor.
• Cavalia: Equestrian theatrical production company that showcases horse training and human-animal partnerships. Adjacent to Train with Trust's equine welfare narrative and serves the same broader equestrian audience, though not a behavior consulting competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TrainWithTrust
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/luvjustice/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/TrainWithTrust
• Instagraminstagram.com/trainwithtrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/training-made-simple-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Train with Trust